Innovations Across the Nations

Grade(s) to which this was taught: 3, 4, 5, Elementary school, Middle school

Grade(s) for which this will be useful: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Elementary school, Middle school

In conjunction with science and social studies, students learn about real-world problems that affect humankind on a global scale. Students are challenged to think critically and creatively as they plan and engineer products that address the real world problems.

Entry Narrative

Many of the world’s greatest challenges are beyond the ability of any one nation to tackle by itself. Water pollution, increasing energy demands, aging infrastructures and even a reduction in the bee population are a few of the global challenges that we are all facing today. To overcome these challenges, we must think critically about these problems, collaborate with others, think creatively and innovate new solutions to these global challenges. The Innovations Across the Nations program will provide students with the opportunity to discuss global challenges with experts in the field, engage children in problem solving and design thinking and encourage students to plan, design and engineer possible solutions to different global challenges. Attached to this entry is a sample of one activity that is part of the larger program.